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Those who bought Tigers prop Aaron Woods at the start of the year will be cheering, but he now looms as a great front-row buy because his Origin snub and great bye schedule means he won’t miss another game until round 17.

Penrith winger Josh Mansour is one of the best backline cheapies of the year - and has a perfect bye schedule to boot.

In Konrad Hurrell, SuperCoaches can buy a top-shelf keeper with a great bye schedule for just $156,200.

Players like Sam Burgess, Benji Marshall, Tim Grant, Issac Luke, Brett Morris and Tautau Moga are also attractive this week because of good bye schedules.

In contrast, top early-season buys Ken Sio, Joseph Paulo, Sam Thaiday, Justin Hodges and Todd Carney will be popular sells this week because they miss key upcoming rounds.

Say bye-bye to quiet time as must buys surface

HEAD-to-head players hoping for a quiet round because of the SuperCoach bye should think again.

This week’s head-to-head break would normally be a no-trade week, but those chasing league glory may be forced to trade this week because a number of must-have buys have hit the market. While both have poor bye schedules for head-to-head players, Penrith winger Josh Mansour and rookie Warriors sensation Konrad Hurrell are impossible to ignore for both league and overall players.

Mansour is the best backline cheapie since Rabbitoh Andrew Everingham, while Hurrell, a top-shelf keeper in waiting, can be purchased for just $156,200.

Head-to-head players must also be mindful of creating cash for next week’s essential buys, including Shaun Fensom and Sam Burgess.

BUY
Aaron Woods
Woods has emerged as a keeper, averaging 70 over the past six rounds. His Origin snub creates great bye coverage, although Chris Heighington’s return may cut his minutes.
Price $313,700

HOLD
Blake Austin
The Penrith youngster recovered from a woeful start to notch a $62,600 rise. He’s now peaked, but hold for bye coverage, then upgrade to Shaun Fensom or Sam Burgess next week.
Price $150,100

SELL
Ken Sio
The Parramatta youngster has been one of the buys of the year making $103,800 so far but should be sold this week before the effects of a horrible bye schedule begin to hit.
Price $198,100

WHO’S HOT

Konrad Hurrell
The Warriors sensation has emerged as a top-shelf keeper, averaging 68 since becoming an 80-minute player. His spot is now cemented following a serious knee injury to Jerome Ropati.

Tautau Moga
He exists. SuperCoach’s mystery man finally emerged last week, scoring a try in a debut that may have cemented his place in the Roosters side. Cheap and set to explode.

GONE COLD

Sam Burgess
The star South Sydney forward is a top-shelf SuperCoach performer whose price is still correcting following some injury-affected rounds. Will be cheap as chips for next week.

Brett Morris
The St George Illawarra flyer is very cheap following some lacklustre rounds, but has looked every bit a keeper this year. His State of Origin snub means he now offers great bye coverage.

WINNING TIPS

“Josh Mansour looks attractive for players who can spare the trade. He can fill that vacant reserve fullback position, has dual position status, plays in rounds 11 and 14 and will make some cash along the way.”
- Matt Mullen (winner 2009)

“For those going for overall, be very wary of falling into the trap of needing 17 players on these big bye weeks. You need quality over quantity as this will also leave you set up better for after the bye period.”
- Martin Bigg (winner 2011)

Tommy,
Im playing h2h with 18 trades left, but im thinking of selling W.Graham and J.Ropati for F.Mateo and K.Hurrell but im worried it might be a bit stupid with Mateo and Hurrell’s poor h2h bye schedule.

Tom SangsterFri 18 May 12 (12:18pm)

Yeah the horse has bolted with Lyon. B Moz a great buy for this week or next.

Tom SangsterFri 18 May 12 (12:19pm)

Sanga H2H supercoach GOLD question,

Everyone in my league took the free trial the other day, and it shows a prediction of upcoming matches and the scores of your opponents. Is it fair of me to bench every single one of my guns so I show up as only scoring a couple hundred each week?

They will get bored/lazy of researching GOLD by next week and I can swap it back Friday night and stomp under-prepared teams. I am top and playing 2nd and 3rd in my next 3 games. Good strategy or won’t fall for thinking its an easy game?

I think you are reading into it waaaaaaay too much. With all these mind games, you are the Brian Smith of NRL SuperCoach.

Tom SangsterFri 18 May 12 (12:21pm)

How good is Mansours’ job security really? he’s only played 2 games and Jennings and Gordon and others may spell trouble if he has a few bad games? Have to decide between getting him and Luke,who will be a keeper and cover me this round and 17.

Have you seen Mansour play???? The bloke is a gun. He has pushed his way into the side on form. The Panthers are building for the future and definitely seem keen to gamble on youth. Daniela or Tighe will be dropped when Jennings returns. Uaisele will be dropped when Michael Gordon returns. But in any case, Gordon won’t be back for four or five weeks.

Tom SangsterFri 18 May 12 (12:27pm)

sanga, im really torn between merrin or luke in the front row this week. i need a long term player to fill that final reserve spot.
luke is guarnenteed the minutes while merrin is pumping out huge scores,

G’day Simsy, good to hear from you mate. Next week is definitely the week for Tony Williams. His byes fall well for an Origin player - both his breaks (14 and 17) fall on weeks he would already miss through Origin.

Tom SangsterFri 18 May 12 (12:41pm)

Sanga, this is a question for a little bit later but need to start preparing cash.

Hayne is the best SuperCoach fullback in the comp and has been for years.

Tom SangsterFri 18 May 12 (12:44pm)

Hey Mate,
Quick one, going to trade austin out for burgess next week, and was hoping to get t-rex back aswell, is trading chambers out for him (freeing up $100k left in my cap) a wasted trade with what chambers has been scoring?

Tom SangsterFri 18 May 12 (12:36pm)

Mr Sangster

Being a Parramatta tragic, I can’t believe I am thinking about making this trade - but I’m thinking about welcoming back the prodigal son Feleti Meteo into my team. This trade would be at the expense of the boom rookie Blake Austin. I know last week you touted Mateo as the best half in Supercoach history but his inconsistency is a worry to me. Your thoughts please - as there is a nagging doubt about this trade and I was having trouble sleeping last night about making it. ( could have also been because of my bad back !!!!)

Tom SangsterFri 18 May 12 (12:48pm)

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